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Events and Reports - Wacken Open Air 2003 - Tommy´s Wacken Report
This years Wacken Open Air was not only a musical success, I also had five of the funniest days in my life. All things were set for at great extended weekend, lots of beer, 30 degrees, a place right next to the entrance, some of my best friends, lots of Steak im Brot (grilled meat of any kind in any form of bread, sounds pretty lame but has developed into a Wacken classic), our newly invested CD-player, and not to forget the 11 concerts I had in planning over the next three days.
So we were indeed ready for some live action. The following was what I saw during this great festival, I have tried to be very general and not going in to too many details.
Overall I must say that even though the sound was acceptable in general, there are still problems with keeping a constant sound level in both quality and loudness, we'll see next year if it's been improved, and please locate the press check-in anywhere else than outside Wacken town about three kilometres from the festival ground. When it comes to organization I have very good things to say about this year, no queues of notice anywhere and everything seemed well planed.
First off are the concerts I saw and at the end of my report I have listed some of the more unserious and highly amusing events that happed. I just couldn't help myself.
Thursday
Circle II Circle
Zak Stevens and the other guys from Circle II Circle opened this years Wacken Open Air with a pretty good show, the main part of the set consisted of seven songs from their debut album Watching In Silence.
Out Of Reach opened powerfully and the band seemed well played together and Zak really had a great connection with the audience. The catchy Into The Wind worked fantastic live and also the slower Forgiven was delivered in great style.
The hard-driven Sea Of White with its huge and almost relaxing verse turned out to be a perfect live track, the variations were successfully played and a cool atmosphere was created during this track.
The Savatage classics Taunting Cobras which rocked seriously, and the bombastic Edge Of Thorns really injected some energy on and off stage.
Metallica's Welcome Home (Sanitarium) was a nice surprise, played a bit alternatively but highly powerful. Overall a well-played gig with a cool atmosphere.
Setlist:
Out Of Reach
Lies
The Circle
Forgiven
Watching In Silence
Into The Wind
Taunting Cobras (Savatage Cover)
Edge Of Thorns (Savatage Cover)
Sea Of White
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Metallica Cover)
Running Wild
The legends delivered the concert that I personally enjoyed the most at this years Wacken Open Air. The band really was fit for fight and put on a powerful and really magical performance. I have always been a huge fan of the band and I think that Rock N' Rolf and the rest of the crew really have made an honourable effort through the years in keeping the magic of Running Wild and Heavy Metal well in shape.
As this year is the bands 20th anniversary we experienced a track selection packed with especially older songs. I was really surprised to hear Genghis Khan, which rocked away with a great flow, and also the hard grooving Branded And Exiled. A big compliment goes to the band that played fantastic and Rock N' Rolf for being in great contact with the fans. Classic's like the melodic blaster Bad To The Bone and the hymn Under Jolly Roger set the crowd wild.
Newer material as the ultra fast Victory and a great version of the lead guitar filled The Brotherhood really stood it's ground live too.
The band quite surprisingly added two unreleased songs to the set Prowling Werewolf and Apocalyptic Horsemen (which will feature on the double 20th anniversary CD: 20 Years In History). That made things pretty interesting and the songs came out quite good, on the other hand I think that the band has so many songs people want to hear, and songs that they haven't played in a long time. Personally I missed something from their, in my opinion best releases, The Rivalry and Black Hand Inn, so I would rather have heard some of those songs, but you can't have it all, I know.
One clear highlight this evening was a fantastic and really epic version of the 11-minute Treasure Island; also the ending "sing along" track Chains And Leather was excellent, thousands of people celebrating the magic of Heavy Metal
I especially noticed how fantastic the twin guitar job was handled during the concert, the bass and drums also delivered a tight rhythm section. My fingers were almost worn out afterwards because of my need to play insane air guitar when I listen to great Metal.
The whole concert had a magical feeling to it, nostalgic and full of positive vibes.
In short Running Wild ruled.
Setlist:
March Of The Final Battle (The End Of All Evil)
Genghis Khan
Little Big Horn
Prowling Werewolf (Unreleased Track)
Riding The Storm
Branded And Exiled
Welcome To Hell
Apocalyptic Horsemen (Unreleased Track)
The Brotherhood
Drum Solo
Bad To The Bone
Treasure Island
Conquistadores
Prisoner Of Our Time
Victory
Under Jolly Roger
Chains And Leather
Friday
Freedom Call
This very positive sounding Power Metal band really started the Friday of with a great concert. They played some fantastic songs from their brilliant newest CD Eternity, Flying High worked perfect live with its powerful rhythm-section and the happy Land Of Light set a nice mood among the audience. The epic song The Quest that is one of their best, was delivered in a great live version, the track has a lot of diversity and change, which worked really well live.
The band members put out a solid performance and had the crowd with them from the start; the whole gig was conducted in a great positive mood.
The melodic keyboard and the pretty heavy rhythm guitars worked together in great harmony.
Freedom Call ended the set with much power and energy and overall this was a highly successful concert with some very well played Power Metal. I left the ground feeling very delightful, ready for some more Metal, beers and blue drinks at the camp.
Setlist:
The Eyes Of The World
Flying High
Tears Of Taragon
Land Of Light
Heart Of The Rainbow
The Quest
Warriors
Freedom Call
The audience at Freedom Call
Primal Fear
Primal Fear had a whole hour available and it was used with a fantastic selection of great songs form all their four albums, and a new song called Sea Of Flames that lived up the high standard of the bands back catalogue.
In particular I remember that the mega heavy Fear kicked serious ass, also Nuclear Fire worked really well live and the crowd seemed in on it all the time. The twin guitar attack is one of Primal Fear's strong points and there was a lot of duelling and harmonies parts delivered with great skill this afternoon.
The brilliant up-tempo Sliver And Gold form the bands debut was a clear highlight; the chorus was shouted out loud from the audience that never rested. Ralf Scheeper's had a very good feeling with the fans and who can't do anything but rock to Judas Priest's Metal Gods.
The slower and bombastic Under Your Spell was a nice variation in this otherwise power-packed set. Final Embrace was another great track that had a really tight sound and a well-played rhythm section.
Overall this was a very successful concert with some cool tracks and a lot of presence on stage.
Setlist:
Countdown To Insanity
Black Sun
Chainbreaker
Nuclear Fire
Under Your Spell
Armageddon
Eye Of An Eagle
Sea Of Flames (New Song)
Fear
Metal Gods (Judas Priest Cover)
Final Embrace
Angel In Black
Silver And Gold
Primal Fear
Symphorce
The gig by Symphorce in the smallest stage in Wacken, the WET Stage that in fact is inside a tent, was one of the biggest surprises this year. I had seldom seen so much intensity coming from a band; singer Andy B. Franck really controlled the show in great style.
Especially the latest and third CD by the band, Phorceful Ahead I found really good and the opener from that disc Speak My Mind set the tent on fire. These guys play a unique form of Power Metal, technical and very direct and hard at times.
There seemed to be this magical mood in the air and every song set free from the band added to the impression of a highly power packed show with lots of head banging, sing a long, and well played Metal.
The powerful chorus orientated Until The Last form the bands second release was a real smasher that set the fans into ecstasy, also the brilliant Slow Down grooved and pumped away in just the right way.
The small stage was really filled completely by the overshadowing aura of the band and the brilliant performance they delivered. Thumbs up guys!
Setlist:
Speak My Mind
Unbroken
Drifted
Touched And Infected
Until The Last
Reveal The Secrets
Nice Dreams (Powermad Cover)
Slow Down
Gamma Ray
One of bands I had been looking forward to the most was Gamma Ray, and yes they lived up the their status as one of Heavy Metal's really strong acts.
What was really interesting was that the set included some rarely played songs (many featured on the bands new Live album: Skeletons In The Closet).
Gardens Of The Sinner opened the show in a suitable mid-tempo way and it was clearly seen that the band where in for some fun. One of the biggest treats was a phenomenal version of the brilliant epic, the very varied Armageddon.
Rising Star/Shine On was a cool part of the set, delivered with a strong musical performance and with a tight rhythm section, the vocals from Kai was pretty good and Henjo Richter delivered some fantastic fast and technical lead passages throughout the set.
Ralf Scheeper's (former singer on the bands three first releases) was brought in during the ballad The Silence that was played in a cool different way, a song that was interesting to hear live even though the fast paced Last Before The Storm would have fitted better for a guest vocalist in my opinion.
Heavy Metal Universe worked really fantastic live and set at nice vibe free from the crowd, No World Order from the bands newest release of the same name also rocked and was packed with a nice amount of both depth and tightness.
A wild and very intense version of the old Helloween track Victim Of Fate ended this very broad reaching show, with that I mean that the band played some cool interesting tracks in an at times alternative way, kind of rearranged for a live show.
A bit more playing time would have made things even better, I also think that a couple of songs were stretched out a bit. Nevertheless Gamma Ray delivered the goods and presented the fans for some great technical played Power Metal.
Setlist:
Welcome
Gardens Of The Sinner
No World Order
Armageddon
Heavy Metal Universe
One With The World
Heart Of The Unicorn
Last Before The Strom
Rising Star/Shine On
The Silence
Heaven Or Hell
Victim Of Fate (Hellloween Cover)
Gamma Ray
Saturday
Masterplan
Masterplan put out an incredible debut album this year, so could they deliver the stuff live? A big yes must be the short answer to that question; a solid concert with a high level of musical performance was indeed what Wacken was in for.
The phenomenal and very heavy Spirit Never Die opened with full force and soon we were treated with a solid Crystal Night featuring earth-shattering vocals from the extremely talented Jorn Lande.
Former Helloween drummer Uli Kusch and guitarist Roland Grapow was fit for fight and the guitar passages from start to finish was excellent, the powerful drumming accompanied by a tight bass resulted in a high standard basic rhythm section.
Soulburn with some great bombastic keyboard parts was another well working aspect of the set, and as expected we were treated with some Helloween stuff too, the melodic The Chance and the darker The Departed (Sun Is Going Down) was mixed into a medley that sounded pretty cool, I nevertheless would have liked a full version of just one of them.
The fast, very heavy and yet still melodic Crawling From Hell ended this great concert with lots of intensity. What also must me mentioned was the excellent keyboard performance; it really gave just that something extra to the overall sound.
Setlist:
Spirit Never Die
Enlighten Me
Crystal Night
Soulburn
Kind Hearted Light
The Chance/The Departed (Sun Is Going Down) (Helloween Medley)
Bleeding Eyes
Crawling From Hell
Metalium
Metalium had a whole hour of playing time and that was used for quite an interesting show.
Two songs from their debut CD opened the show, Fight fired away with great power while Metalium also rocked, but I think that the band could have had a better connection with the audience and perhaps a bit more energy on stage, especially in the beginning. It was like the band never reached the last gear, but nevertheless played a solid concert.
The band played a new song in Pain Crawls In The Night, which I found good on a first impression basis. In The Name Of Blood from their third and in my opinion best work Hero Nation - Chapter Three worked very well live and the powerful song got the crowd a bit hotter. Rasputin also ruled, it came out very melodic and it seemed that the band got better as the concert evolved.
In the end Jutta Weinhold entered the stage and sang a Zed Yago track in Black Bone Song and also a cool version of Led Zeppelin's Rock And Roll together with Henning Basse, who truly delivered a great overall performance with his talented strong voice, on the other hand I think that the last two songs were dragged out at bit.
To sum up, the band did a pretty good job, played an overall cool concert that offered some great Power Metal songs, the atmosphere could have been more magical, anyway when a cracker like Steel Avenger blast through the speakers I just had to bang my head.
Setlist:
Fight
Metalium
Odin's Spell
Break The Spell
Pain Crawls In The Night (New Song)
In The Name Of Blood
Steel Avenger
Rasputin
Free Forever
Black Bone Song (Zed Yago Cover)
Rock And Roll (Led Zeppelin Cover)
Rage
Wow! This must surely count as on of the biggest highlights this year. Rage is an amazing band consisting of only three members, but when they play it sounds as if there was a whole stage filled with musicians. Founding member Peavy Wagner is a powerful centre in the band, pounding hard on his bass while delivering a raw but very soothing vocal performance, and being in great contact with the crowd.
Victor Smolksi is one of the best guitarists out there, incredible technically and with a flair for melody and fast paced passages. On the drums we find Mike Terrana, playing an ultra power-packed style of drums combined with many great details.
This old band only had an hour to play in but that was wisely used, the classic Don't Fear The Winter opened with thunder and the smasher Sent By The Devil from the brilliant Black In Mind album was another treat.
Down form the bands latest CD Unity worked fantastic live too, and the fans gladly shouted along with the highly motivated band. Instead of two half songs in the medley part I personally would have liked one full one, anyway everything they played rocked. The guitar/drums solo's was pure magic and fitted perfectly into this very tight show.
Rage
The brilliant and very diverse Straight To Hell was performed with an incredible flair for "making things more interesting", War Of Worlds is form the upcoming new album and the song left something to hope for.
From The Cradle To The Grave with its ultra hard groove is always a pleasure to hear live, and this time around was no exception, the fans where really into it from the start and supported the band in great style throughout the concert. Higher Than The Sky ended the gig with some loud sing along form the fans and it was a shame that the band had to leave the stage so early.
Fantastic songs, brilliantly performed and with a very intense feel among both fans and band members.
Setlist:
Don't Fear The Winter
Paint The Devil On The Wall
Sent By The Devil
Down
Set The World On Fire
Black In Mind/Solitary Man (Medley)
Guitar/Drum Solo
Straight To Hell
War Of Worlds (New Song)
From The Cradle To The Grave
Higher Than The Sky
The audience at Rage
Stratovarius
This impressive and consistent band has always been one of my absolute favourites. They have a really high standard live and the gig this night was surely something to remember.
The classic Kiss Of Judas opened the gig with a tight and powerful sound, it was early on a fact that the crowd was really ready to rock, immense singing along and body surfing saw the day as the band seemed very up to it. Singer Timo Kotipelto delivered a stunning performance and overall this "super" band kicked some serious ass, Timo Tolkki playing fantastic, fast and technical guitar form the first note.
I found the great Soul Of A Vagabond from Elements Pt. 1 smashing live, great huge keys and a grooving rhythm. The show was indeed centred on fast songs and Speed Of Light is a classic amongst them, ultra fast and well played. The fans reacted through the whole concert with great delight as head-banging tracks one after the other was introduced.
Twilight Symphony was a bit of a surprise and the bombastic track stood its ground, the more direct and hymn-like Hunting High And Low rocked well also.
One thing was that they played five songs from their stunning Visions album, but that it also included the extensive title track was yet another surprise. The track was put out there with great flair and a bombastic edge, I nevertheless would have found it cool with something from their brilliant Destiny release or perhaps some really old songs, anyway it's very hard to put a finger on this marvellous performance.
When Black Diamond was introduced as the last song of the gig people went totally crazy and I must admit that my air guitar was tuned in too. This fast and very melodic track simply rules and it set a perfect end for a brilliant and very energized concert.
Setlist:
Kiss Of Judas
Legions
Against The Wind
Forever Free
Soul Of A Vagabond
Speed Of Light
Twilight Symphony
Haunting High And Low
Visions
Paradise
Black Diamond
Stratovarius
Sonata Arctica
The Fins stood for the last concert in my book this year, it was after 1 in the evening and the smaller Party Stage ground was filled with people waiting to see this very promising melodic band.
Abandoned, Pleased, Brainwashed, Exploited opened the set pretty bombastically and the band tried very hard to bring some energy into the pretty tired crowd. The sound was not that good, even though it got better after some songs.
Sonata Arctica
Some highlights where the great slow and emotion-filled Replica, the melodic My Land that worked perfect live and a cool powerful version of Victoria's Secret.
The show was pretty good even though it seemed like the connection from the stage to the audience could have worked in a better way. The mood was nothing really special but musically the band delivered a high quality show, great keyboard tunes that came out really atmospheric combined with a tight rhythm section was really splendid. A cool thing was that the show never rested, we where bombarded with great songs one after the other, and the rhythm-section of the band was quite powerful.
Setlist:
Abandoned, Pleased, Brainwashed, Exploited
8th Commandment
Victoria's Secret
Replica
My Land
Black Sheep
FullMoon
The Cage
Sonata Arctica
Funny moments
These are some, among so many others (some which will go unreported in consideration of the people involved :))
- When Steen showed up, not particular sober, after he had been gone for some hours, he apparently had been waiting for Nina at the bus pit. After some time he had been invited in for some beers by an older German couple.
Why did you speak so loud when you came back, I was standing right next to you! and why was your tongue so blue?
- When Anders quite surprisingly realized that his new tent in fact only was a wind shelter. Just blame Rema 1000 for not making the picture of the "half tent" big enough, me and Steen laughed continually for half an hour at least. After that moment it was reserved for alternative intentions (I have to leave the rest of the story out due to likely misinterpretations).
- When Morten ordered an ice cream and the machine partly exploded leaving ice cream all over the place. Morten's reply to the shocked lady at the stand: Das ist ein scheiss-eiss.
- When Ulrik after another unserious conversation was named and renamed forever "Der Alter Sack" (you old bag) by a drunken German guy that was passing through our camp.
- Steen, after he first thought he had lost his photo pit shirt on the way to see Running Wild, but then in fact had forgotten his camera, afterwards he couldn't find our camp and ended up spending most of the night mourning in the Metal-disco tent, believing he had lost his expensive camera, which I (once again) had safely recovered at our camp right behind one of Steen's blue drinks, hmmm any connection there maybe?
- Ulrik's completely far-out and very uncensored interpretations of his own sick lyrics and old famous Danish songs in the mornings (sometimes involving Nina who took this "trip into guys territory and verbal expressions" very well). How do you come up with all that crazy stuff you sick fuck?
- Me almost destroying Ulrik's mega tent after too many beers (and other liquid mixtures). I didn't see a box filled with what I think was "pølser i pølsevand" (important Steak im Brot ingredient), stomped on it and crashed into the tent. (Give me a break guys it was becoming very dark).
- When Steen (in a seriously drunk condition) tried (as on so many other occasions) to sing Manowar at the camp and cried out "Call To The West" in a song which title I sadly can't remember due to too much cheap Vodka, hmmm I surely don't have that Manowar track at home Steen, do you?
- Me waking up one morning because it was raining, my tent was almost falling apart, I was cold and I had a mega headache. I got out and saw that Nina and Steen had crashed in the half tent that Anders bought and they were completely white in their faces, when did you come back and what did you drink? Then I saw that Steen had left his tent wide open, so I tried to save his discman and speakers that at this time were soaking in the small pool that was developing in his tent, while I had a minor outburst at Steen for being so clumsy, Steen's reply was a quiet "aaarrgg"
- My totally over the edge attempt to save my tent the second time around with a line of string after a nude drunken German guy had fallen into it. What is so wrong with my tent? Leave it the fuck alone. On Sunday it was sacrificed to the Metal gods.
Sunday we left for home, completely wasted and tired after so many days filled with Metal and assorted alcohol.
This surely leaves much to hope for next year where great bands as Saxon, Grave Digger, Brainstorm and Nevermore already have made it on the bill.
Thanks for a great trip folks; let's try making next year just as great, fun not to forget, and completely far out. And remember that Wacken isn't over till the last Steak im Brot and blue vodka drink has been consumed.
Leaving Wacken...
| You can click the pictures for a bigger version.
Circle II Circle
Circle II Circle
Running Wild
Freedom Call
Freedom Call
Freedom Call
Freedom Call
Primal Fear
Primal Fear
Primal Fear
Primal Fear
Primal Fear
Symphorce
Symphorce
Symphorce
Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray
Masterplan
Rage
Rage
Rage
Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
The cheapest tent in Wacken
Playing some air guitar at the camp
Metal fan and reporter in the day...
...Maniac werewolf by night
Nobody got any sleep that night
All pictures taken by Steen & Tommy, except pictures of Masterplan & Running Wild courtesy of Metaltix | Written by Tommy
Friday, August 22, 2003 |
This article has been shown 16165 times. Go to the complete list.
RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by Steen (Staff) - Friday, August 22, 2003 | 
View Profile
Comments: 518 | | Haha! It was too funny! Thanks for saving my tent and camera... but please! Leave the wig at home next time :)
Posted by Steen (Staff)
Friday, August 22, 2003 |
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| Comment by Tommy (Member) - Friday, August 22, 2003 | 
View Profile
Comments: 74
Ratings: 31 | | Hahaha. I guess the word fun comes way short in describing this trip, it just ruled from start to end. I'll have to say to Morten not to bring the wig next year, or perhaps I just need to lower my consumption of beers and blue drinks :)
Tommy
RevelationZ Magazine
Posted by Tommy
Friday, August 22, 2003 |
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| Comment by Morten S (not the guy mentioned above though) (Anonymous) - Friday, August 22, 2003 | I just have a small addition...
During the Masterplans medley they also snuk in "Sunset Station" from JORN's second album >>Worldchanger<<, which was a very very welcome surprise, the highlight for me!!
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| Comment by Ulrick (Anonymous) - Monday, August 25, 2003 | Next year I will arrive on wednesday. We'll prbably be more in the camp next year. That means more beer!! 10 cases won't be enough. 14-15 is more appropriate. and thx for a great trip. With lots of fun og lots of Steak im Brot!!!
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| Comment by mads (Anonymous) - Tuesday, August 26, 2003 | hey ulrick don't forget the five or six bottles of beer I'll drink over the caurse of the 4 or five days in wacken next year... I can't wait...
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| Comment by Crofty from England (Anonymous) - Friday, August 29, 2003 | Hey great stuff lads. I am definitely making sure I am going to Wacken next year for real baby WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It is my number 2 Priority after going to the progpower u.s.a festival
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| Comment by Moonshield (Anonymous) - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | I'm going to Wacken on sunday already, makes for a lot of FUN.
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| Comment by fridtjof (Anonymous) - Thursday, June 3, 2004 | stratovarius are the best band in the world
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| Comment by loreto (Anonymous) - Friday, June 18, 2004 | I love to marko paasikoski of Sonata arctica....!!!!!1
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| Comment by chouaib (Anonymous) - Saturday, April 28, 2007 | fuck .
am psycho sorry
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